Preformed simulated brick panel having stepped edges

ABSTRACT

A PERFORMED PANEL SIMULATING BRICK OR OTHER STONE MATERIAL LAID IN SUCCESSIVE COURSES AND BEING CHARACTERIZED BY THE PRESENCE OF STEPPED LONGITUDINAL EDGES THAT ARE FORMED FOR TONGUE AND GROOVE ALIGNED ENGAGEMENT SO AS TO MINIMIZE THE PRESENCE OF VERTICAL JOINTS UPON INSTALLATION.

Oct. 19, 1971 3,613,326

PREFORMED SIMULATED BRICK PANEL HAVING STEPPED muons R. E. MOLLMAN Filed Oct. 5, 1969 FIG. 3

. INVENTOR. ROBERT E. MOLLMAN J wm w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,613,326 PREFORMED SIMULATED BRICK PANEL HAVING STEPPED EDGES Robert E. Mollman, Moreland Hills, Ohio, assignor to Alside International Corporation, Akron, Ohio Filed Oct. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 863,610 Int. Cl. E04c 1/10, 2/10 US. Cl. 52-314 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, a general, to the art of artifi cial exterior surfaces and, in particular, to an artificial exterior surface that is formed to simulate brick or other stone or masonry material that has been laid in horizontal pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In Medow US. Pat. 3,217,453, there is disclosed a form of simulated stone panel that features interlocking between vertically adjacent panels. This patent further shows an overlapping arrangement for the purpose of minimizing the presence of joints that occur as the panels are longitudinally end-abutted. While the Medow construction does accomplish to some extent the concealment of joints in the instances of simulated stone, this problem is not solved in instances where simulated courses of brick are being presented, and in such instances the bricks, per se, are split so that the textured surface thereof must be provided with vertical markings in an effort to conceal, to some extent, whatever end abutment occurs between two such bricks following end abutment thereof.

This requirement greatly restricts the brick selection that can be employed and, accordingly, limits the aesthetic qualities of the end product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been discovered that if a panel of this general type is provided with a stepped arrangement at its longitudinal ends, that then and in that event, the ends of the bricks or other simulated item can be positioned in overlapping relationship to the group surface of the adjacent panel with the result that only a narrow vertical joint line will be presented due to the fact that the remainder of the abutted edges will be concealed by the brick overlying the simulated grouting surface of the adjacent panel.

Additionally, this step arrangement permits the use of a far greater selection of brick styles with there being no requirement for vertical markings due to the fact that the bricks themselves are never split between their ends.

It has further been found that by using this construction that an additional advantage is achieved in that the panels can be dropped vertically into place and do not require longitudinal clearance for the puropse of sliding the same horizontally into place. This is a great advantage, especially as regards completing a wall section to a fixed point.

It has been further found that added rigidity will be provided if the opposed longitudinal ends are respectively provided with tongue and groove components with this arrangement permitting the male end of the one panel to 3,613,326 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 ice he slid into interlocked position with the female component of an adjacent panel.

Production of an improved panel having the above desired characteristics accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention with other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in View of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved panel shown partly positioned and in place.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the improved panel in installed position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the detailed construction of the female components of the panel.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the improved panel, generally designated by the numeral 10, is shown applied to a wall surface 11 by virtue of nails 12, 12 being positioned through appropriate openings in an upper edge portion 13 of the panel 10.

The exterior surface of the panel 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is intended to simulate natural brick that has been laid in place by conventional masonry techniques and to this end includes a plurality of simulated bricks 20, 20 that are disposed in a generally common plane that is spaced outwardly with respect to a simulated grouting surface 21. The lower edge 22 of panel 10 constitutes an additional simulated grouting surface with it being understood that this can either rest on the ledge 23 if it is the lowermost panel being installed, or can be received in the groove 24 that is provided on the upper edge 13 as clearly shown in FIG. 1 if it happens to be in a subsequent row or tier.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts, each panel 10 includes a stepped female end 30 and a stepped male end 40 with these components being clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Turning next then to FIGS. 3 and 4, the panels per se are of unitary construction with the stepped female ends 30, 30 each having a plurality of horizontal support surfaces 31, 31 as well as a series of vertical abutment surfaces 32, 32. These surfaces 31, 31 and 32, 32 are recessed within a pocket defined by the back surface 33 of the panel and the rear edge 34 of the simulated bricks 20, 20 as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

By this arrangement, the projecting vertical tongues 42, 42 of male ends 40, 40 may be inserted within the appropriate pocket and moved horizontally into abutment into the surfaces 32, 32. Simultaneously, the horizontal tongue portions 43, 43 may be seated within the pockets on supporting surfaces 31, 31. By this arrangement and as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the only visible points of abutment are indicated by the numerals 45, 46, 47 and 48. It will be clear that the remaining joints or abutment points are concealed behind the-simulated brick members 20, 20 with this arrangement being shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

Since tongues 42, 42 and 43, 43 bear a simulated grouting surface and the ends of the bricks 20, 20 overlie all points of abutment, except that indicated at 47, for example, it is believed that an improved aesthetic appearance is achieved since the line 47 will be all but invisible.

In use or operation of the improved siding panel, it will first be assumed that the panels have been formed to the shape shown. At this time, one such panel and in the case of a nomal installation, a starter panel having a perpendicular edge as viewed in FIG. 1, may be first applied to the wall. Following this, an adjacent panel may be dropped into position with the tongues 42 and 43 abutting the surfaces 32 and 31. The panels are positioned in place on a ledge 23 and nailed in place by the use of nails 12, 12 applied in suitable openings in the upper edge 13. When the end of the first course is approached, the remaining panel to be employed may be sawed at its righthand end and then dropped into place as shown in FIG. 1 with a flush fit being obtained at the corner.

As application of the panels proceeds vertically, it is believed apparent that the same procedure will be repeated with the tongue 22 that defines the lower edge of the unit being interlocked within the groove 24 of the upper edge 13 and with work proceeding as previously described.

It will be seen from the foregoing how there has been provided a new and improved type of exterior paneling that is characterized by a minimal number of visible abutment surfaces so as to enhance the overall aesthetic appearance of the completed installation.

While a full and complete disclosure of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is no intended to be limited to the specific form herein shown.

Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A building panel of the character described compris- 111g;

(A) a fiat unitary body having (1) parallel top and bottom edge portions having complemental tongue and groove interlocking means provided thereon;

(2) a male stepped end connecting said top and bottom edge surfaces;

(3) a female end stepped complemental to said male stepped end for tongue and groove interlocking purposes and also interconnecting said top and bottom edge portions;

(B) a decorative surface provided on one face of said body and including (1) simulated surfaces of building components such as brick; said surfaces being arranged in course-like fashion;

(2) a simulated grouted surface (a) recessed with respect to said building component surfaces,

(b) and surrounding said building component surfaces on all sides except the upper sides of the upper course of said building component surfaces, so as to space the same from each other and said stepped male and female ends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,572,919 2/1926 Geese 523l4 3,217,453 11/1965 Medow 523l4 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-309, 589 

